Cylinder lock



' 'r. H. JOHNSTQNE 2,182,899

CYLINDER LOCK Original Filed June 7, 1954 2 -r h et I I 1! n f 1 42 17' 92906107? 3 fifaizdzone 12,- 1939. JOHNSTONE 7 2,182,809

CYLINDER LOCK Original Filed June 7, 1934 2 sh t -she t 2 fieodore 7a? cfaydjams Patented Dec. 12, 1939 UNITE. S'l'TES CYLINDER LOCK Theodore H. Johnstone, Detroit, Mich, assignor to The Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company, Stamford, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Continuation of application Serial No. 729,388, June '7, 1934. This application April 29, 1936,

Serial No. 77,070

16 illaims.

My invention relates to locks andparticularly to the cylinder type of lock in whichthe slidable or shiftable tumblers normally lock the cylinder against rotation in its casing but are shiftable by the insertion of a proper key into the cylinder to release the cylinder for rotational movement, and is a continuation of my application for Letters Patent of the United States for Improvements in cylinder lock, filed June '7, 1934, Serial No. 729,388.

in general the object of the invention is to produce a lock structure which will resist mutilation and which will frustrate picking of the tumblers by special tools, key structures, or other means.

More in detail, an important object of the invention is to provide a casing structure, and wall and inner structures of hardened metal arranged to resist drilling or other operation for the purpose of mutilating the lock structure in order to reach the tumblers for displacement thereof to release the lock.

A further object is to produce a keyway in association with the locking tumblers, the keyway being so constructed that upon manipulation of certain of the tumblers, it is possible for these tumblers, in their manipulated position in relation to the keyway, to form a substantially eifective blocking member in the keyway, so that effective unlocking manipulation of certain of the other tumblers is difiicult without the use of the proper key.

A still further object is to provide tumblers of various forms and arrangements for operating and cooperating to frustrate unlocking manipulation by methods other than the use of the proper The various features of construction and operation of my improved lock are incorporated in the structure shown on the drawings, in which drawings: V

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the lock structure;

2 is a plan view with the lock casing and a supporting housing in horizontal diametral sec- Fig. '7 is a section on plane VII-VII 2 and 3;

Fig. 8 is a section on plane VIII'-VIII Figures 2 and 3;

Figures Fig. 9 is a section on plane IX-IX Figures I 2 and 3;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing one of the tumblers in a different position of operation;

Fig. 11 is a I the tumblers in a different position of operation; Fig. 12 is a plan view of a key for the lock;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged section on plane XIII-- XIII Fig. 12; and,

Fig. 14 is an enlarged view for illustrating principle of operation of certain tumblers.

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. '7 showing the blocking tumbler in unlocking position.

The lock case I is in the shell with the internal flange 2 at its outer end, this case being of hardened metal which is tough and resistant to drilling or mutilation. The case body has the diametrically, opposite longitudinally the view similar to Fig. 9 showing one of form of a cylindrical '20 extending slots 3 and 4 for receiving the lock tumblers, these. slots extending from the rear end of the case to within a short distance of the inner side of the flange 2.

The lock cylinder comprises the two substantially semi-cylindrical members forming a body part A and a cover part-B. The body part A has a comparatively wide longitudinally extending rectangular channel 5 in its inner side which is intersected by the cross or diametrally extending channels 6 for the tumblers. The channels 6 are rectangular and outside of these channels and in alignment therewith are the cylindrical channels or pockets 1 for the springs B Y cooperating with the abutment extensions 9 on the tumblers, the pockets 1 communicating with the channels 6 through slots ill. The abutment lugs 9 are cylindrical 'for sliding fit inthe pockets 1 and are connected by rectangular necks l l with the tumblers, the necks extending through and fitting the slots Ill, the tumblers being thus accurately guided in their sliding movement; The tumbler bodies are of rectangular shape having each in its outer side a substantially deep recess l2 with the edge at ,the bottom of the recess tapered or pointed as indicated at i3 for facilitating cooperation of the key hitting with the tumblers. Below the recess 12 is a shallower recess M providing a shoulder 15 on the tumblers. When the tumblers are entirely within the channels t their outer edges 5E3 are inthe plane of the outer face of the body part ,A and the bottom faces of the recesses I2 are in planes parallel with the bottom of the recess 5 in the part A.

Extending longitudinally in the channel 5 of the part A and along the center thereof is a rectangular bar It whose length is substantially equal to the length of the channel 5 and which at its rear end has a rectangular plate I! extending at right angles therefrom for seating in the rectangular recess I8 provided in the rear end of the body part A. At its front end the bar has a. face plate I9 extending at right angles therefrom for engaging against the front end of body part A. This face plate is of substantially semi-cylinrical form and adjacent to the bar IS the plate has the shallow recesses 20 registering with the channel 5 in the part A and outside of these shallow recesses are the deeper recesses 2|.

Upon assembly of the body part A and the cover part B and the bar I6 in their respective operable positions they produce a key admitting passageway having the key hole flanges 21 and 27 and the channels 28 and 28 and the key hole portion 23. The key hole flange sections 21 and 2'! lie in the same plane one above the other and are bisected by the bar I6. The channels 28 and 28 join the key hole flange sections 2'! and 2'I' to the keyhole portion 26 and extend laterally from the plane of the key hole flange sections 2'! and 21. Channels 28 and 28' laterally extend far enough beyond the plane of the key hole flange sections 2? and 21' so that the key hole portion 26 is not connected to the key hole flange sections 2'! and 27' except by the channels 28 and 28'. When the key engaging portion I3 of a blocking tumbler C is manipulated into its unlocking position, shown in Figure 15, the distance between the key engaging portion I3 of the tumbler C and the wall 59 of the bar I6 is substantially less than the distance from the wall 49 of the bar I6 to the end 48 of the key hole flange section 21, so that manipulation of the key bitting portions of certain of the other tumblers into their unlocking position becomes extremely diflicult because of the restricted space left between the portion I3 of the blocking tumbler C and the wall 49 of the bar I6. The width of the channel 28 is no greater than the distance between the engaging portion I3 of the tumbler C or equivalent tumbler and the wall 49 of the bar I6 when the tumbler is in unlocking position, so that when the portions I3 are in the position shown in Fig. 15 the key hole flange section 2'! is substantially blocked and the entrance of a device to manipulate key engaging portions of the tumblers in the rear of the unlockedtumbler into their unlocking positions shown in Fig. 15 is effectively prevented. The key engaging portions I3 do not enter or lie in the same plane as the key hole portion 26, so that the key engaging portions I3 cannot be reached from the key hole portion 26 except with the use of an instrument formed in the shape of the key hole portion 26 andthe channel 28' and the key hole flange section 21. Such an instrument would not be readily movable in the key passageway and isolation and manipulation of the individual key engaging portions into their unlocking position by the tool described wouldbe extremely difficult and picking of the lock would be frustrated. The key hole portion 26 and the channel 28 and the key hole flange section 27 are designed to receive portions of the key which are added to the key for the purpose of strength only; therefore, the key hole portion 26, the channel 28, the key hole flange section 21 are not constructed for the purpose of frustrating unauthorized manipulation of the locking tumblers. It is possible to produce a keyway of the kind described in a one piece body by methods well known to the tradesuch as die-casting and broaching the keyway into a solid bar.

A companion face plate 22 of substantially semi-cylindrical shape has the central rectangular notch 23 aligning with but wider than the bar I6 and with its bottom spaced away from the bar. Adjacent to this center slot 23 are the recesses 24 leaving the ends 25 which engage in the outer recesses 2| in the face plate part I9. When connected together the parts I9 and 22 form a cylindrical face plate structure whose diameter is equal to that of the part A and which, when the cylinder is inserted in the case rests against the inner side of the flange 2. The recesses in the parts I9 and 22 cooperate to form a key passage comprising the U-shaped body portion 26 and key flange receiving portions 21 and 21'.

I have shown the end I! and the face plate part I9 integral with the bar I6 and the face plate part 22 a separate piece. All these parts could be part of an integral structure or could be separate and rigidly secured together as by welding or any other suitable means. These various parts are of hard metal which will resist drilling or mutilation.

The lock cylinder cover part B has a rectangular channel extending longitudinally in its inner side which forms three sides of the keyhole 26 and which channel is wider than the bar I6 and registers with the recess 23 in the face plate part 22. Paralleling the sides of such channel are the rectangular walls 29 and 29' whose faces are spaced from the bottom of the channel 5 in the part A to form one wall of each key flange receiving channel 21 and 21, the channel in part B forming with the bar I6 2. U- shaped key body receiving channel.

The parts A and B are held against radial separation by the case I and are also held against such separation by a ring 30. To receive the ring the rear ends of the parts A and B are reduced to leave the annular recess 3| and the shoulder 32. In alignment with the recess 3| the case I has the annular internal recess 33 for receiving the ring 30, the engagement of the ring in this recess 33 and the abutment thereof against the shoulder 32 then looking the cylinder against axial displacement in the case I and with the face plate |9-22 firmly seated against the flange 2. The case I which has the tumbler receiving notches 3 and 4 may be sufliciently sprung open for insertion of the ring and will then securely clamp the ring in position.

The ring 30 is held against rotational displacement by lugs 34 thereon extending into the slots 3 and 4 and the ring structure may serve as an abutment for limiting the rotational movement of the cylinder structure. As shown the wall I! at the rear end of the bar I6 projects a distance beyond the recess I8 and into the recess 3| (Fig. 6) and on the ring 30 the abutments 35 and 35' are provided for engagement by the respective sides of the projecting end of the wall I! for limiting the rotational movement of the cylinder, the extent of such movement, with the arrangement shown, being substantially 180.

The wall I! may also support the cam or lug the bit edges l3 of the be very difficult to thereafter pick other tumblers 36 which transmits the rotational movement of the cylinder to structure which is to be controlled by the lock. This cam member may be secured by means of a pin 31 thereon having secure fitting in a hole 38 in the wall ll. The case I is received in a housing 39 in which it is held against rotary and axial displacement as by means of a set screw 40.

When the parts A and B of the split cylinder are separated the tumblers will abut at their point edges l3 against the bar it and will be prevented from being forced out of their channels by the springs. When the part B is applied to the part A then the shoulders H5 at the inner ends of the tumblers will abut against the outer face of the wall 29 on the part B and will be held in their channels against the pressure of the springs and with their outer ends projecting varying distances into the slot 3 of the case for thus locking the cylinder against turning movement in the case. When the key (Figs. 12 and 13) is inserted through the key hole and into the key passage between the parts A and B the bitting on the key will be engaged by the edges is on the tumblers and the tumblers will be shifted inwardly to be entirely within the cylindrical surface of the cylinder and the cylinder may then be turned. When the key is inserted its body and flanges pass through the key hole portions 26 and 2'! and 21', the channel 42 of the key receiving the bar it and being accurately guided thereby and held in proper alignment.

The tumblers, shown in the form of wafers. are substantially all of the same shape except that different formations are provided for the ends of different tumblers for serving various purposes. One of the tumblers such as the tumbler C may be of full width at its ends and of short throw. Such tumbler may readily respond to the ordinary picking methods in which rotative effort is applied to the cylinder and the tumblers shifted inwardly by means of a picking tool to be caught and held below the inner edge of the slot 3. However, owing to the short throw of such tumbler; the tumbler, after picking, will leave very little space between the bar l6 and tumblers so that it will in the rear of the tumbler picked.

A procedure which is sometimes practiced to open a lock is to insert a blank key and wiggle the key while rotative effort is applied against the cylinder to obtain markings on the key flange for guiding the cutting of notches and forming bitting on the key which will eventually open the lock. To frustrate opening of the look by this means tumblers such as D are provided. These tumblers have their corners cut away at their lower ends to leave heads 43 whose side edges 44 are inwardly of the side edges of the tumbler body. With such formation of the tumbler ends the sides of the notches 3 and 4 flare or diverge to form inclined planes against which the edges 44 abut after the tumbler has been drawn inwardlyasufiicient distance. Suppose that a blank key is inserted into the lock. This will result in all the tumblers being shifted downwardly with their ends in the slot 5. If rotation effort is now applied by the key against the cylinder the tumbler edges will be crammed against the inner edge a. of the slot l, if the rotation effort is in clockwise direction, and the tumblers will thus be frictionally held against the blank key is jiggled and moved and the key flange will be marked by the tumbler bit edges l3.

shifting movement while The key is then withdrawn and filed down a bit at the points of marking and again inserted and the same procedure repeated until the notches become of suflicient depthfor release of some of the tumblers for shift to unlocking position by their springs. This procedure would be successful with tumblers like C, and with tumblers like D up to the point where the tumbler end 43 only remains in the slot 4. Rotation effort on the cylinder then brings the edge 44 of this tumbler against the inclined face b of the slot 4, as best shown in Fig. 14. The rotative effort on the cylinder, communicated to the tumbler, will cause lateral pressure of the edge 44 against the inclined surface I) and such inclined surface engagement will tend to shift the tumbler outwardly away from the key blank so that no further markings will be made on the key flange and this impression method of opening the lock will be frustrated.

If the tumbler D is also provided with the notches 44' at its upper end protection will be afforded against opening of the lock by the socalled' jiggle key method in which a key blank with a full depth bit thereon is worked back and forth in the keyway while rotative effort is applied to the cylinder. The tumbler D may be worked down by the jiggle key until a notch 44' passes below the lower edge of the channel 3 and then the notch will receive the corner of the channel and the tumbler will be blocked against upward shift and so will interfere with further operation of the jiggle key.

In picking locks advantage is taken more or less of any irregularities that may be present in the structure. For example the notches 3 and 4 may be of slightly difierent widths or may not be exactly diametrally opposite, or the tumbler passages may not be exactly symmetrically located in the cylinder. With such irregularities a lock may be picked by the so-called blank key method in which a blank key is inserted to draw down all the tumblers from out of the upper, notch and then rotative effort is applied on the cylinder in attempts to bring the tumbler channels at the upper ends into position for slight overlap thereof by the corner of the locking channel so that when the key is withdrawn and the tumblers are released they cannot snap back into thev upper channel but will allbe held in unlocking position so that the cylinder may then be turned for opening of the lock. With a tumbler like D, or a tumbler like E shown on the drawing (Fig. 9), such opening method will be frustrated. When a blank key is inserted and the cylinder is turned, for example in clockwise direction, the tumbler channels at their upper ends may be brought into position for slight overlap of the corner a of the channel 3 so that when the key is withdrawn tumblers of the shape of tumbler C would catch under the point or edge and be held in unlocking position. However, although the upper corner of the body of the tumbler D might be caught under the corner a, the extension 43' on the tumbler would still be within the notch 3 and this would prevent suflicient rotational movement of the cylinder for opening of the lock.

' The tumbler E (Fig. 9) serves the same purpose as the tumbler D in'balking opening of the lock by the blank key method, the tumbler E, however, having a larger throw than the tumbler D so that this tumbler E serves the additional purpose ofinterfering with the picking of the lock by the ordinary tool insertion method, as the'tum bler, in order to be released, will have to be shifted a comparatively long distance inwardly over the obstruction formed in the key passage by the other shorter throw tumblers. Fig. 11 illustrates the operation of the tumbler E under the blank key method, the tumbler channel 6 having been forced a short distance beyond the point a of the channel 3, but the depth of the slot 46 is made greater than any possible extent of overlap of the tumbler channel by the locking channel edge and, therefore, as soon as the key is withdrawn, the tumbler E will snap back upwardly to bring its head into the channel 3 even though the body of the tumbler is caught below the point a. The lock cylinder is then prevented from further rotation and cannot be opened.

With the various tumbler arrangements shown and described, it will be practically impossible to pick or unlawfully open the lock except by mutilation thereof, and such mutilation is frustrated by the efficient armoring provided for the lock cylinder by the hard metal case I, the hard metal face plate and the hard metal bar I 6. It will be noted that the corners at the front of the case I are well rounded and that the flange 2 has a tapering or inclined inlet so that it will be practically impossible to start a drill for getting at any vital parts of the tumbler structure. By making the cylinder split or of two parts, the parts may be made of stronger metal and the tumbler channels and spring pockets can be more accurately provided than if the lock cylinder were in the form of an integral casting.

I have shown a practical and efficient embodiment of the various features of my invention, but I do not desire to be limited to the exact construction, arrangement, and operation shown and described, as changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A look cylinder structure split longitudinally into a body part and a cover part, said body having a longitudinally extending channel on its inner side and cross channels, tumblers shiftable in said cross channels, said cover part having a longitudinal channel in alignment with said body part longitudinal channel, a bar of hard metal extending through said longitudinal channels and defining therewith a passageway for receiving a key, and a face plate structure of hard metal for said cylinder secured to the front end of said bar.

2. A look cylinder structure split longitudinally into a body part and a cover part, said body part having a longitudinally extending channel on its inner side and cross channels, tumblers shiftable in said cross channels, said cover part having a longitudinal channel in alignment with said body part longitudinal channel, a bar of hard metal extending through said longitudinal channels and defining therewith a passageway for receiving a key, and a face plate structure of hard metal for said cylinder secured to the front end of said bar, and a casing of hard metal for said cylinder having an internal annular flange at its front end forming a seat against which said face plate structure abuts.

3. A look structure comprising a cylinder having a longitudinal passageway therethrough and a bar of hard metal extending through said passageway and defining therewith a keyway for receiving and guiding a key, tumbler channels crossing said keyway and tumblers shiftable in said channels, a face plate structure of hard metal for the front of said cylinder secured to the front end of said bar, a plate of hard metal engaging the rear end of said cylinder and secured to the rear end of said bar, a cam pin mounted on said rear plate eccentric relative to said cylinder axis, a casing of hard metal for said cylinder and having locking channels for receiving projected tumblers, an internal flange at the front of said casing integral therewith and forming a seat for said face plate structure, and an abutment at the rear end of said casing for holding said cylinder against axial displacement.

4. In a lock structure, a lock cylinder having a longitudinally extending keyway therethrough and cross channels provided with shiftable locking tumblers, a face plate structure a hard metal for the front of said cylinder, the rear end of said cylinder having a recess, a rear plate of hard metal engaging in said recess, and a key guide bar of hard metal extending through said keyway and connected at its ends with said face plate structure and rear plate respectively.

5. In a lock structure, a lock cylinder having a longitudinally extending keyway therethrough and cross channels provided with shiftable locking tumblers, a face plate structure of hard metal for the front of said cylinder, the rear end of said cylinder having a recess, a rear plate of hard metal engaging in said recess, and a key guide bar of hard metal extending through said keyway and connected at its ends with said face plate structure and rear plate respectively, a casing of hard metal for said cylinder structure having tumbler receiving passageways, an annular flange at the front of said casing integral therewith and forming an abutment for said front face plate structure, and a detachable abutment at the rear end of said casing for holding said cylinder structure against axial displacement.

6. In a lock structure, a longitudinally split cylinder structure comprising a body part and a cover part, said parts defining a keyway, said body part having cross passages, tumblers shiftable in said cross passages, springs tending to shift said tumblers outwardly, said tumblers having stop shoulders, a lug on said cover part forming an abutment for said stop shoulders for limiting the outward movement of said tumblers by said springs, and a casing receiving said cylinder structure and provided with tumbler receiving passages.

7. In a lock structure, a longitudinally split cylinder structure comprising a body part and a cover part, said parts defining a keyway, said body part having channels intersecting said keyway, tumblers shiftable in said channels, springs tending to shift said tumblers outwardly, said tumblers having key engaging points and stop shoulders, a lug on the cover part of said cylinder structure forming an abutment for said stop shoulders for limiting the outward movement of said tumblers by said springs, a reinforcing structure for said cylinder structure comprising a face plate of hard metal and a rear plate engaging the rear end of said cylinder structure body part and a bar extending through said keyway and connecting said face plate and rear plate, said bar forming a key guide and serving as an abutment for limiting the outward movement of said tumblers by said springs when said cylinder structure cover part is removed, and a hard metal casing for said cylinder structure having tumbler receiving channels and having front and rear abutment flanges for confining said cylinder structure against axial displacement.

ing tumblers, a face plate and a rear plate for ing tumblers, a face plate and a rear plate for said cylinder, and a bar extending through said keyway and secured to said plates to hold them against the front and rear ends respectively of said cylinder.

9. In a lock structure, a lock cylinder having a longitudinally extending keyway therethrough and cross channels provided with shiftable locksaid cylinder, a bar extending through said keyway and secured to said plates to hold them against the front and rear ends respectively of said cylinder, a casing for said cylinder having an internal flange at its front end forming a seatfor said face plate, and an abutment on the rear end of said casing engaging the rear end of said cylinder to lock it in said casing.

10. In a lock structure, a lock cylinder having a longitudinally extending keyway therethrough and cross channels provided withshiftable looking tumblers, a said cylinder, a bar extending through said keyway and secured to said plates to hold them against the front and rear ends respectively of said cylinder, a casing for said cylinder having an internal flange at its front end forming a seat for said face plate, and an abutment on the rear end of said casing engaging the rear end of said cylinder to lock it in said casing, said abutment having stops engageable by said rear plate to limit the rotational movement of said cylinder in said casing.

11. In a lock structure, a lock cylinder having a longitudinally extending keyway therethrough and cross channels provided with shiftable locking tumblers, a face plate and a rear plate for said cylinder, and secured to said plates to hold them against the front and rear ends respectively of said cylinder, a casing for said cylinder, and stop means provided on said casing and engageable by said rear'plate to limit the rotational movement of said cylinder in said casing. I

12. In a lock structure, a longitudinally split cylinder structure comprising a body part and a cover part, said parts defining a keyway, said body part having channels intersecting said keyway, tumblers shiftable in said channels, springs tending to shift said tumblers outwardly, said tumblers having key engaging points and stop shoulders, a lug on saidcover part forming an abutment for said stop shoulders for limiting the outface plate and a rear plate for a bar extending through said keyway tumblers shiftable in said channels, springs tendblers having key engaging points and stop shoulders, a lug on said cover part forming an abutment for said stop shoulders for limiting the outward movement of said tumblers by, said springs when said cover part is applied to said body part, a key guiding bar secured to the ends of said body part and extending through said keyway and serving as an abutment for engagement by said key engaging points for limiting the outward movement of said tumblers by said springs when said cover part is removed from said body part.

14. In a lock cylinder having a keyway extended thereinto and comprising a plurality of sections,

a plurality of locking tumblers movable in said nipulation of certain tumbler key engaging portions for blocking the first mentioned section with one or more of said manipulated tumbler key engaging portions at the junction of said sections,

the walls of said sections being so constructed and arranged with respect to each other as to. prohibit access in said adjacent section to said tumblers whereby to substantially prohibit unlocking manipulation of said tumbler key engaging portions when said portions lie in said first mentioned section and said first mentioned section is blocked by said blocking tumbler or tumblers.

15. In a look, a mounting member, a body movable in said mounting member, a plurality of locking tumblers movable in said mounting member and body, said body member having a key receiving recess therein including portions offset from one another, the key bitting means of said tumbler being directly exposable when in unlocking position in one of said portions only and being accessible only from said portion, whereby when certain of said tumblers are in unlockingposition access is barred through any portion of said key receiving recess to'a tumbler therebehind. 16. In a lock, a mounting member, a body movable in said mounting member, a plurality of looking tumblers movable in said mounting member and body, a wall section fixed with respect to said body member interposed betweeneach pair of said tumblers, said body member having a key receiving recess therein, said recess including portions offset from one another, the key bitting means of said tumblers being exposable when in unlocking position in one of said portions only and being accessible only from said portion whereby when certain of said tumblers are in unlocking position access is barred through any portion of said key receiving recess to a tumbler therebehind.

, THEODORE I-I. JOHNSTONE. 

